The 2017 Pittsburgh Panthers football team represented the University of Pittsburgh in the 2017 NCAA Division I FBS football season. The Panthers were led by third-year head coach Pat Narduzzi and played their home games at Heinz Field. They were a member of the Coastal Division of the Atlantic Coast Conference (ACC). This was Pitt's fifth season as a member of the ACC. They finished the season 5–7, 3–5 in ACC play to finish in a three-way tie for fourth place.

Recruiting

Position key BackBCenterCCornerbackCBDefensive backDBDefensive endDEDefensive linemanDLDefensive tackleDTEndEFullbackFBGuardGHalfbackHBKickerKKickoff returnerKROffensive tackleOTOffensive linemanOLLinebackerLBLong snapperLSPunterPPunt returnerPRQuarterbackQBRunning backRBSafetySTight endTEWide receiverWR

Recruits

The Panthers signed a total of 24 recruits.

Coaching staff 2017 Pittsburgh Panthers football staff Coaching staff Pat Narduzzi – head coach Shawn Watson – Offensive coordinator/quarterbacks Josh Conklin – Defensive coordinator Andre Powell – Running backs/special teams Charlie Partridge – Defensive line John Peterson – Offensive line Renaldo Hill – Cornerbacks Tim Salem – Tight ends Kevin Sherman – Wide receivers Rob Harley – Linebackers/recruiting coordinator   Support staff Chris Lasala – Associate Athletic Director/football operations Bob Junko – Director of player development and High School Relations Ben Mathers – Director of football operations Mark Diethorn – Director of Recruiting Ben Cotton – Offensive graduate assistant Joshua Lott – Defensive graduate assistant Rob Greene – Offensive graduate assistant Phil Decapito – Defensive graduate assistant   Strength and conditioning staff Dave Andrews – Head Strength and Conditioning Coach Freddie Walker – Associate Strength and Conditioning Coach Austin Addington-Strapp – Assistant strength and conditioning coach Spring Guide 2017

Roster 2017 Pittsburgh Panthers football rosterQuarterbacks  3 Ben DiNucci – sophomore (6'2, 220)  4 Max Browne – senior (6'5, 230)  7 Thomas MacVittie – freshman (6'5, 225)  8 Kenny Pickett – freshman (6'2, 215) 19 Jake Zilinskas – sophomore (6'2, 210)

Tailbacks 21 A.J. Davis – freshman (6'0, 205) 22 Darrin Hall – junior (5'11, 220) 23 Todd Sibley Jr. – freshman (5'9, 215) 26 Chawntez Moss – sophomore (5'11, 210) 36 Shawn Wood – freshman (6'0, 210) 37 Qadree Ollison – junior (6'2, 230) 39 Kyle Vreen – freshman (5'10, 190)

Fullbacks 35 George Aston – junior (6'0, 245) 40 Colton Lively – senior (6'0, 235) 47 Ryan Sliwoski – junior (5'11, 230) 49 Erik Sellers – sophomore (6'1, 235)

Wide receivers  5 Tre Tipton – sophomore (6'0, 190)  6 Aaron Mathews – sophomore (6'4, 205)  9 Michael Smith – freshman (6'1, 205) 10 Quadree Henderson – junior (5'8, 190) 11 Ruben Flowers III – freshman (6'3, 205) 34 Mark Bernsdorff – senior (5’11, 195) 46 Michael Vardzel – freshman (5'11, 190) 48 Kellen McAlone – junior (6'2, 205) 80 Dontavius Butler-Jenkins – freshman (6'0, 205) 82 Rafael Araujo-Lopes – junior (5'9, 190) 83 Darian Street – freshman (6'1, 180) 84 Garrett Bickhart – freshman (6'5, 190) 85 Jester Weah – senior (6'3, 210)

Tight ends 19 Charles Reeves Jr. – freshman (6'5, 280) 45 Devon Edwards – senior (6'4, 275) 81 Nathan Bossory – senior (6'3, 240) 84 Grant Carrigan – freshman (6'7, 275) 86 Tyler Sear – freshman (6'4, 245) 87 Chris Clark – sophomore (6'6, 260) 88 Matt Flanagan – senior (6'6, 260) Offensive linemen 54 Justin Morgan – freshman (6’6, 350) 55 Jaryd Jones-Smith – senior (6’7, 320) 56 Brandon Ford – freshman (6’5, 310) 57 Gabe Houy – freshman (6'6, 280) 58 Brandon Hodges – senior (6’4, 315) 60 Owen Drexel – freshman (6'3, 270) 63 Alex Officer – senior (6’4, 340) 67 Jimmy Morrissey – freshman (6’3, 295) 68 Brian Burgess – freshman (6’2, 295) 69 Kenny Rainey III – freshman (6'3, 330) 70 Brian O'Neill – junior (6’6, 305) 71 Bryce Hargrove – freshman (6’4, 310) 72 Tony Pilato – sophomore (6’5, 320) 74 Jerry Drake Jr. – freshman (6’5, 315) 76 Connor Dintino – junior (6’3, 315) 77 Carter Warren – freshman (6'5, 325) 78 Alex Bookser – junior (6’6, 315)

Defensive linemen  5 Kam Carter – sophomore (6'4, 295)  8 Dewayne Hendrix – junior (6’4, 260) 10 Keyshon Camp – freshman (6’4, 290) 17 Rashad Weaver – freshman (6’5, 265) 31 Kaezon Pugh – freshman (6’1, 250) 34 Amir Watts – sophomore (6’3, 285) 40 James Folston Jr. – junior (6’4, 250) 51 Jim Medure – sophomore (6’2, 225) 55 Jaylen Twyman – freshman (6'2, 315) 59 Carson van Lynn – freshman (6'5, 255) 66 Mike Herndon – junior (6’4, 310) 86 Julian Desire' – freshman (6’3, 215) 90 Rashad Wheeler – freshman (6’3, 290) 91 Patrick Jones II – freshman (6’5, 245) 93 Shane Roy – junior (6’4, 280) 95 Greg Sizemore – freshman (6'1, 230) 96 Allen Edwards – senior (6’4, 255) 97 Deslin Alexandre – freshman (6'4, 255)

Punters 18 Ryan Winslow – senior (6'6, 225) 98 Kirk Christodoulou – freshman (6'1, 215) Linebackers 23 Oluwaseun Idowu – junior (6’0, 225) 25 Elijah Zeise – junior (6’2, 230) 28 Anthony McKee Jr. – sophomore (6’2, 215) 30 Albert Tucker – freshman (6'1, 210) 36 Chase Pine – freshman (6’2, 240) 38 Cam Bright – freshman (6'0, 210) 39 Saleem Brightwell – sophomore (6’0, 220) 41 Jalen Williams – junior (6’2, 215) 44 Elias Reynolds – freshman (6’2, 235) 47 Kyle Nunn – freshman (6'3, 200) 48 Peyton Deri – freshman (6’1, 225) 53 Brian Popp – junior (6'0, 235) 58 Quintin Wirginis – senior (6'2, 245)

Defensive backs  2 Maurice Ffrench – sophomore (5'11, 190) (+WR)  3 Damar Hamlin – sophomore (6’1, 190)  4 Therran Coleman – freshman (6’0, 195)  7 Henry Miller – freshman (6’3, 205)  9 Jordan Whitehead – junior (5’11, 195) 11 Dane Jackson – sophomore (6’0, 180) 12 Paris Ford – freshman (6'0, 175) 14 Avonte Maddox – senior (5’9, 180) 15 Jason Pinnock – freshman (6'0, 190) 16 Damarri Mathis – freshman (5'11, 185) 20 Dennis Briggs – junior (5’10, 195) 21 Malik Henderson – sophomore (6’0, 190) 22 Kollin Smith – freshman (5'10, 170) 24 Phil Campbell – freshman (6’1, 195) 27 Bricen Garner – freshman (6’1, 180) 32 Phillipie Motley – junior (5’10, 175) 35 Rob Boatright – senior (5’10, 190) 43 Jazzee Stocker – sophomore (6’2, 190) 46 Rimoni Dorsey – sophomore (6’0, 195)

Placekickers 49 Ian Troost – junior (6'6, 200) 92 Jake Scarton – freshman (6'3, 180) 97 Alex Kessman – freshman (6'3, 190)

Long snappers 61 Cal Adomitis – freshman (6'1, 210)

Schedule The Panthers schedule was released on January 24, 2017.

Game summaries

Youngstown State

At Penn State

Oklahoma State

At Georgia Tech

Rice

At Syracuse

NC State

At Duke

Virginia

North Carolina

At Virginia Tech

Miami (FL)

2018 NFL draft

Player Position Round Pick NFL club Brian O'Neill Offensive Tackle 2 62 Minnesota Vikings Jordan Whitehead Safety 4 117 Tampa Bay Buccaneers Avonte Maddox Cornerback 4 125 Philadelphia Eagles

References